MATTHEW MCSEVENEY SENTENCED IN COLERAINE FOR SEX OFFENCES AGAINST CHILD

A recent court ruling has sparked outrage after a man convicted of serious sexual offences against a young girl received what many are calling a lenient punishment. The individual, whose identity remains confidential, expressed strong disapproval of the sentence handed to Matthew McSeveney, a 33-year-old resident of Drumadragh, Coleraine, Northern Ireland.

McSeveney appeared before Antrim Crown Court on Wednesday to face charges related to multiple sexual offences committed against a minor. He had previously admitted to engaging in sexual assault, performing sexual acts in front of a child, and encouraging a child to observe a sexual act. These offences are believed to have taken place sometime between March 1 and September 30, 2022, during which the young victim was just 10 years old.

Following the court proceedings, an anonymous individual, who claims to know the victim but cannot be identified publicly, voiced their frustration outside the courthouse. They stated, “McSeveney admitted the offences and got three years of probation and five years on the sex offenders register. What a joke. How many times do we have to see child predators get off with pathetic sentences or, worse, no jail time, before people wake up?”

He continued, expressing concern over the justice system’s handling of such cases: “These monsters ruin lives, yet the courts keep handing out slaps on the wrist like their crimes are nothing. Meanwhile, victims are left with lifelong trauma, and the system does nothing to protect them.”

During the sentencing, the presiding judge detailed the disturbing nature of the offences. The court heard that the abuse began when the victim was only 10 years old. The judge recounted that McSeveney, from Coleraine, had engaged in inappropriate behaviour, including instructing the girl to hang up her phone during a call and then mimicking a sexual act. On another occasion, the victim was playing a video game when McSeveney showed her a pornographic video. Yet another incident involved her being at McSeveney’s residence, having just come out of the shower, when he allegedly “picked her up and wrapped her legs around his waist.”

Despite the severity of the crimes, the judge acknowledged that McSeveney’s guilty pleas, although not early, warranted some leniency. As a result, he was sentenced to three years of probation, accompanied by a five-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order. Additionally, McSeveney was ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of ten years, reflecting the court’s recognition of the gravity of his actions and the need for ongoing monitoring.